Black-winged Pratincole - (Glareola nordmanni) Fischer von Waldheim, 1842 - Μαυρόφτερο Νεροχελίδονο - Cyprus

 The black-winged pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) is a wader in the pratincole bird family, Glareolidae. The genus name is a diminutive of Latin glarea, "gravel", referring to a typical nesting habitat for pratincoles. The species name commemorates the Finnish-born zoologist and explorer Alexander von Nordmann.

Description

It is 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) long, with short legs, long pointed wings and a forked tail. It has a short bill, which is an adaptation to aerial feeding. The back and head are brown, and the wings are brown with black flight feathers. The belly is white and the underwings are black. Very good views are needed to distinguish this species from other pratincoles, such as the collared pratincole and the oriental pratincole which may occur in its range. It is marginally larger than the collared pratincole, and is shorter-tailed and longer legged. Although the dark underwing and lack of a white trailing edge to the wing are diagnostic, these features are not always readily seen in the field, especially as the chestnut underwing of the collared pratincole appears black unless excellent views are obtained.

Distribution and habitat

The black-winged pratincole is a bird of open country and is often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects. This pratincole is found in warmer parts of south-east Europe and south-west Asia. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa, and is rare north or west of the breeding range.

Breeding

Its 2–4 eggs are laid on the ground.

Feeding

An unusual feature of the pratincoles is that, although classed as waders, they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground.

Conservation

The black-winged pratincole is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

The Acanthocephalan parasite Apororhynchus paulonucleatus was discovered in the intestine of the black-winged pratincole.. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_pratincole

Photo 19/9/2019 Kouklia Dam  by George Konstantinou

Found at Kouklia Dam  by Vasos Vasiliou 

Basil or Great basil - Ocimum basilicum L. - Ώκιμον το βασιλικόν - Βασιλικός - Βασιλιτζιά - Cyprus

 Family: Lamiaceae

Basil (/ˈbæzəl/, also US: /ˈbeɪzəl/ Ocimum basilicum /ˈɒsɪməm bəˈzɪlɪkəm/, also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also known as sweet basil or Genovese basil. Basil is native to tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. In temperate climates basil is treated as an annual plant, however, basil can be grown as a short-lived perennial or biennial in warmer horticultural zones with tropical or Mediterranean climates.

There are many varieties of basil including sweet basil, Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), and Mrs. Burns' Lemon (O. basilicum var. citriodora). O. basilicum can cross-pollinate with other species of the Ocimum genus, producing hybrids such as lemon basil (O. × citriodorum) and African blue basil (O. × kilimandscharicum).

Etymology

The name "basil" comes from the Latin basilius, and the Greek βασιλικόν φυτόν (basilikón phytón), meaning "royal/kingly plant", possibly because the plant was believed to have been used in production of royal perfumes. Basil is likewise sometimes referred to in French as "l'herbe royale" ('the royal herb'). The Latin name has been confused with basilisk, as it was supposed to be an antidote to the basilisk's venom.

Description Timelapse of growing basil

Desiccated basil showing seed dispersal

Basil is an annual, or sometimes perennial, herb used for its leaves. Depending on the variety, plants can reach heights of between 30 and 150 cm (1 and 5 ft). Its leaves are richly green and ovate, but otherwise come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes depending on cultivar. Leaf sizes range from 3 to 11 cm (1 to 4+1⁄2 in) long, and between 1 and 6 cm (1⁄2 and 2+1⁄2 in) wide. Basil grows a thick, central taproot. Its flowers are small and white, and grow from a central inflorescence, or spike, that emerges from the central stem atop the plant.[citation needed] Unusual among Lamiaceae, the four stamens and the pistil are not pushed under the upper lip of the corolla, but lie over the inferior lip. After entomophilous pollination, the corolla falls off and four round achenes develop inside the bilabiate calyx.

Phytochemistry

The various basils have such distinct scents because the volatile aromatic compounds vary with cultivars. The essential oil from European basil contains high concentrations of linalool and methyl chavicol (estragole), in a ratio of about 3:1. Other constituents include: 1,8-cineole, eugenol, and myrcene, among others. The clove scent of sweet basil is derived from eugenol. The aroma profile of basil includes 1,8-cineole and methyl eugenol. In this species eugenol is synthesised from coniferyl acetate and NADPH. Some of these are useful as insect repellents, see § Insect repellent below.

Distribution and habitat

Basil is native to India and other tropical regions stretching from Africa to South East Asia, but has now become globalized due to human cultivation. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil

Host plants of a moth - Cabbage looper - Trichoplusia ni (Hübner, 1800–1803) - Cyprus

Ο βασιλικός είναι ετήσιο αρωματικό, ποώδες φυτό, η κοινή ονομασία για το μαγειρικό βότανο Ώκιμον το βασιλικόν της οικογένειας των Χειλανθών Λαμιίδων (δυόσμων) και της τάξης των Σωληνανθών. Σε ορισμένες Αγγλόφωνες χώρες είναι γνωστός και ως «Βότανο του Αγίου Ιωσήφ».

Ο βασιλικός πιθανόν κατάγεται από την Ινδία, ή ίσως από το Ιράν και να έχει καλλιεργηθεί εκεί για περισσότερα από 5.000 χρόνια. Ήταν διεξοδικά αναφερόμενος στους Έλληνες συγγραφείς Θεόφραστο[3] και Διοσκουρίδη. Πρόκειται για ένα ημι-σκληραγωγημένο ετήσιο φυτό, πιο γνωστό ως μαγειρικό βότανο, χαρακτηριστικό κυρίως στην Ιταλική κουζίνα, το οποίο επίσης παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στις κουζίνες της Νοτιοανατολικής Ασίας της Ινδονησίας, Ταϊλάνδης, Μαλαισίας, Βιετνάμ, Καμπότζης, Λάος και της Ταϊβάν. Αναλόγως με το είδος και την ποικιλία, τα φύλλα μπορούν να έχουν γεύση παρόμοια με το γλυκάνισο, με έντονη, πικάντικη, συχνά γλυκιά, μυρωδιά.

Υπάρχουν πολλές ποικιλίες των Ocimum basilicum καθώς και διάφορα συναφή είδη ή υβρίδια, τα οποία επίσης φέρονται με τη γενική ονομασία "βασιλικός". Ο τύπος, ο οποίος χρησιμοποιείται στα ιταλικά φαγητά, συνήθως, ονομάζεται γλυκός βασιλικός, σε αντίθεση με τον βασιλικό της Ταϊλάνδης (O. basilicum ποικ. thyrsiflora), τον βασιλικό λεμόνι (lemon basil - O. X citriodorum) και τον ιερό βασιλικό (holy basil - Ocimum tenuiflorum), οι οποίοι χρησιμοποιούνται στην Ασία. Ενώ οι πιο διαδεδομένες ποικιλίες του βασιλικού αντιμετωπίζονται ως μονοετή (annual), κάποιοι, σε ζεστά τροπικά κλίματα, είναι πολυετή (perennial),[Σημ. 2] συμπεριλαμβανομένου του «ιερού βασιλικού» («holy basil») και μια ποικιλία γνωστή ως «Αφρικανικός μπλε βασιλικός» («African Blue»).Από τη Βικιπαίδεια, την ελεύθερη εγκυκλοπαίδεια - https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82

Cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps - Chrysis taczanovskii Radoszkowski, 1876. - Cyprus

Family Chrysididae

Παρασιτική σφυκα του ειδους Cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps - Chrysis taczanovskii Radoszkowski, 1876 της οικογενειας Chrysididae που παρασιτεί κυρίως σε προνύμφες μελισσών και σφηκών. Η συγκεκριμένη εκκολάφτηκε από προνύμφη σφήκας του είδους Asian mud-dauber wasp - Sceliphron curvatum. 

Parasitic wasp of the species Cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps - Chrysis taczanovskii Radoszkowski, 1876 of the family Chrysididae which parasitizes mainly bee and wasp larvae. This one was hatched from a wasp larva of the species - Asian mud-dauber wasp - Sceliphron curvatum - First reported in Cyprus 11/7/2020 and  Sceliphron spirifex  - Σφαλάντζι - Cyprus

Commonly known as cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps, the hymenopteran family Chrysididae is a very large cosmopolitan group (over 3000 described species) of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasps, often highly sculptured, with brilliant metallic colors created by structural coloration. They are most diverse in desert regions of the world, as they are typically associated with solitary bee and wasp species, which are also most diverse in such areas.

The term "cuckoo wasp" refers to the cuckoo-like way in which wasps in the family lay eggs in the nests of unrelated host species.

Chrysididae, the scientific name of the family, refers to their shiny bodies and is derived from Greek chrysis, chrysid-, "gold vessel, gold-embroidered dress", plus the familial suffix -idae. The common names of many species pay similar tribute to their appearance: jewel wasp, gold wasp,emerald wasp, ruby wasp and so on (cf. French guêpe de feu, fire-wasp, and German Goldwespe, gold-wasp).

Members of the largest subfamily, Chrysidinae, are the most familiar; they are generally kleptoparasites, laying their eggs in host nests, where their larvae consume the host egg or larva while it is still young, then the food provided by the host for its own juvenile. Chrysidines are distinguished from the members of other subfamilies in that most have flattened or concave lower abdomens and can curl into a defensive ball when attacked by a potential host, in the manner of a pill bug. Members of the other subfamilies are parasitoids, of either sawflies or walking sticks, and cannot fold up into a ball.

Chrysidids are always solitary, and are closely associated with other solitary wasps. They fly mainly in the hottest and driest months of summer, preferring subtropical and Mediterranean climates. They favour dry areas and sandy soils; each species is confined to a narrow type of microhabitat where adults may rest or find hosts to parasitise, for example on bare soil or on dead wood where other solitary wasps have their nest holes. Some species visit flowers such as of the Umbelliferae, Compositae and Euphorbiae. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos at Xyliatos dam 7/2023 by George Konstantinou and Mike Hadjiconstantis

Tamarisk peacock - Godonela aestimaria (Hübner, 1809) - Cyprus

 See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family Geometridae

Godonela aestimaria, the tamarisk peacock, is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found in southern and south-eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The wingspan is 21–25 mm. There are two generations per year with adults on wing from April to May and again from August to October.

The larvae feed on various species of Tamarix.

Tamarix sp. - Αλμυρίκι - Μερίκα - Μυρίκη, Μέρικος ή Μεριτζιά - Cyprus

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

Idaea circuitaria (Hübner, 1819) - Cyprus

 See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family: Geometridae

Idaea, sometimes called Hyriogona (among other synonyms), is a large genus of geometer moths. It was erected by Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1825. They are found nearly worldwide, with many native to the Mediterranean, the African savannas, and the deserts of western Asia.

Photos Geri 14/5/2011 by George Konstantinou

Least carpet - Idaea rusticata (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) - Cyprus

 See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family Geometridae

 Idaea rusticata, the least carpet, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775.

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe, in the Near East and in North Africa. From the Balkan Peninsula, the occurrence continues across the Palearctic though Ukraine, southern Russia and Asia Minor to the Caucasus and from there via northern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan to the Central Asian mountains as far as Mongolia. Of all moths in Britain it showed the greatest percentage increase in abundance between 1968 and 2007, and expanded its range beyond the vicinity of London.

Habitat

These moths inhabit wastelands, open places, parks and well exposed gardens

Biology

It is usually a univoltine species. In southern Europe, under favourable circumstances, a second generation can also be formed. The second generation is significantly smaller. The adults fly at night from July to August, and are attracted to light. The larvae mainly feed on ivy (Hedera) and traveller's joy (Clematis vitalba). and withered leaves of other herbaceous plants.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaea_rusticata

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

Scopula minorata (Boisduval, 1833) - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family Geometridae

Scopula minorata is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1833. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara, the Arabian Peninsula and on the islands of the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, it is found in southern Europe. It can be distinguished from Scopula lactaria only by examination of its genitalia.

The wingspan is 15–20 millimetres (0.59–0.79 in).

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

European pepper moth or Southern European marsh pyralid - Duponchelia fovealis Zeller, 1847 - Cyprus

See also - List of Moths of Cyprus you will find in this blog (Lepidoptera)

Family Crambidae

Duponchelia fovealis is a species of moth of the family Crambidae described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1847. It is endemic to the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands, but has extended its range to other parts of Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America

Adult wingspan is about 20 mm. The moth flies from May to June, depending on the location.

The larvae feed on various plants. Hosts include a wide range of mostly herbaceous ornamental plants and field crops, such as Anemone, Anthurium, Begonia, Cyclamen, Euphorbia, Gerbera, Kalanchoe, Limonium, Rosa, certain aquatic plants, corn, cucumbers, peppers, pomegranate, tomatoes, and certain herbs.

Invasive pest in the US

The first record of Duponchelia fovealis in North America was in California where live larvae were detected in a shipment of begonias at a Home Depot in the city of Concord in Contra Costa County from the city of San Marcos in San Diego County (CDFA, NAPIS, 2005). In the spring of 2005, this species was discovered in three greenhouses in southern Ontario, Canada. In July, 2010, four male moths were collected in a pheromone trap in San Diego County, California. It is not known at this time if there is an established population.

On November 1, 2010, the USDA-AHIS announced this moth was present in at least 13 U.S. states

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duponchelia_fovealis

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

                                                                           Male

                                                                             Female

Truxalis eximia cypria Dirsh, 1950 - Endemic subspecies of Cyprus

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Endemic subspecies of Cyprus

Family Acrididae

Truxalis is a genus of grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, subfamily Acridinae and tribe Truxalini. Species can be found in: Africa, the Iberian peninsula, Asia minor through to Indo-China

Habitat:

Truxalis eximia inhabits garigues, dunes, large pastures, fallow land and similar places most often in low altitudes.

Life cycle:

The larva hibernates and the adults appear most often from March or April (e.g. Cyprus), in cooler regions supposedly from May.

Remarks:

Truxalis eximia occurs in Cyprus, the Near East, Asia Minor and further eastwards from S-Russia and Iran to at least India.From http://www.pyrgus.de/Truxalis_eximia_en.html

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

Cyprian Stick Grasshopper - Pyrgomorpha cypria Bolívar, I., 1901 - Endemic to Cyprus

 Ενδημικό είδος της Κύπρου.- Endemic to Cyprus.

Family:Pyrgomorphidae

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Pyrgomorpha is the type genus of grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae and the tribe Pyrgomorphini. Species are found in Southern Europe, Africa and the middle East, through to India and Mongolia

Habitat:
Pyrgomorpha cypria inhabits extensively managed habitats of all kinds. It is especially typical for garigues, coastal areas and mountain slopes.

Life cycle:
Most often the larvae are the hibernation stage. The adults usually appear from late February. But adult hibernations are as well reported. But in November 2016 I only recorded larvae. The adults are most common in April and May where they are often the most common species in their habitat.

From http://www.pyrgus.de/Pyrgomorpha_cypria_en.html

Photos Geri  by George Konstantinou

Migratory locust, African Grasshopper - Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cyprus

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

 Family:Acrididae

The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is the most widespread locust species, and the only species in the genus Locusta. It occurs throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It used to be common in Europe but has now become rare there. Because of the vast geographic area it occupies, which comprises many different ecological zones, numerous subspecies have been described. However, not all experts agree on the validity of some of these subspecies.

Many other species of grasshopper with gregarious and possibly migratory behaviour are referred to as 'locusts' in the vernacular, including the widely distributed desert locust.

At 6.5 Gbp, the migratory locust possesses one of the largest known insect genomes

The migratory locust is polyphenic. It transitions between two main phenotypes in response to population density; the solitary phase and the gregarious phase. As the density of the population increases the locust transforms progressively from the solitary phase towards the gregarious phase with intermediate phases:

Solitaire = solitary phase → transiens congregans (intermediate form) → gregarious phase → transiens[check spelling] dissocians (intermediate form) → solitaire = solitary phase.

Pigmentation and size of the migratory locust vary according to its phase (gregarious or solitary form) and its age. Gregarious nymphs have a yellow to orange covering with black spots; solitary nymphs are green or brown. The gregarious adult is brownish with yellow, the latter colour becoming more intense and extensive on maturation. The solitary adult is brown with varying extent of green colour depending on the colour of the vegetation. Gregarious adults vary in size between 40 and 60 mm according to the sex; they are smaller than the solitary adults.

The phase transition may be mediated by DNA methylation in the brain. Expression of the DNA methyltrasferase gene Dnmt3 is high in the brain of the gregarious form, decreases in gregarious locusts when they are isolated, and increases in solitary locusts when they are crowded. Knock-down reduces phase-related locomotor activity. Transcriptionally, Dnmt3 is linked with phase-core transcriptional factor, hormone receptor HR3

The migratory locust is an edible insect. In Europe, the migratory locust is officially approved for the use in food in Switzerland (since May 20 On 2 July 2021, the European Food Safety Agency published a scientific opinion stating that the consumption of migratory locust in frozen, dried or ground state is safe for humans. On 12 November 2021, the EU member states gave their green light for the EU Commission to authorize the placing on the market of migratory locust as a food. This is one of the final steps in the novel food authorization procedure. As a next step, the Commission will now adopt a legal act

Photos Geri 26/6/2006 by George Konstantinou

Long-winged conehead - Conocephalus fuscus cyprius (Fabricius, 1793) = Endemic subspecies of Cyprus

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Family:Tettigoniidae

 Ενδημικό υποεΊδος της Κύπρου - Endemic subspecies of Cyprus

Conocephalus fuscus, the long-winged conehead, is a member of the family Tettigoniidae, the bush-crickets and is distributed through much of Europe and temperate Asia. This bush-cricket is native to the British Isles where it may confused with the short-winged conehead (Conocephalus dorsalis). These two species are phenotypically similar; however, the distinguishing factor between the two is the fully developed set of wings the long-winged conehead possesses that allows for flight. In the short-winged coneheads the hind wings are shorter than the abdomen, causing the wings to be vestigial and the species is incapable of flight. For this reason it is hard to discriminate between the two species during the early stages of their life cycle before the wings have fully developed. The colouration of the conehead is typically a grass green with a distinctive brown stripe down its back, though there are some brown phenotypes. 

Feeding

This species is omnivorous, though its diet is mostly vegetarian. The long-winged conehead feeds primarily on grasses as well as small invertebrates such as aphids and caterpillars.

Behaviour and reproduction

Conocephalus fuscus is active during the day, and their main form of locomotion is walking. However, they use their large hind legs for jumping when under threat of predation

Photos Athalassa  by George Konstantinou 

Mediterranean leaf katydid - Acrometopa syriaca Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 - Cyprus

 Family:Tettigoniidae

Acrometopa is a genus of bush crickets in the subfamily Phaneropterinae; It is typical of the tribe Acrometopini. Species in this genus are found in south-eastern Europe and the Middle East

Habitat:

Acrometopa syriaca inhabits dry and hot places with at least partially higher growing vegetation (e.g. Cistus). In Kalymnos Island (Greece, East Egean), I recorded larvae and adults in high density in a road side verge planted with Nerium oleander.

Remarks:

Acrometopa syriaca occurs from the Greek East Egean Islands across parts of Anatolia to the Near (e.g. Syria and Lebanon), Cyprus and Middle (e.g. Iran) East.

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Photos Athalassa  by George Konstantinou 

Scaly cricket - Pseudomogoplistes squamiger (Fischer, 1853) - Cyprus

 See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Pseudomogoplistes squamiger (Fischer (?), 1853) Της οικογένειας Mogoplistidae. Είναι είδος άπτερου γρύλου της οικογένειας Mogoplistidae (scaly crickets). Στην Κύπρο το είδος εντοπίστηκε για πρώτη φορά στις 8 Φεβρουαρίου 2018, από τον Μιχαήλ Χατζηκωνσταντή, στο Ζύγι της επαρχίας Λάρνακας. Το είδος εντοπίστηκε σε παραλία με μεγάλα χαλίκια και πέτρες.  Μερικά άτομα ήταν κάτω από πέτρες και αρκετά περπατούσαν πάνω σε χαλίκια, λίγα μέτρα από το νερό της θάλασσας.

Pseudomogoplistes squamiger, the scaly cricket, is a species of apterous cricket in the family Mogoplistidae. Long known in the genus Mogoplistes it was placed this genus, for which it became the type species, by AV Gorochov in 1984.

Habitat and Distribution

Usually found near the sea on pebble beaches, its native range is especially in southern Europe and northern Africa, but since the 1960s it has been recorded from Dorset, later found in Devon in the British Isles. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomogoplistes_squamiger

Photos Zygi 8/2/2018 by  Mike Hadjiconstantis

Pfaendler´s Molehopper - Xya pfaendleri (Harz, 1970) - Cyprus

Family:Tridactylidae

Xya is a genus of pygmy mole crickets, with species recorded from Africa, southern Europe, Cyprus, Asia and Australia

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Photos Athalassa  by George Konstantinou 

Modicogryllus pseudocyprius Gorochov, 1996 - Endemic too Cyprus

 Endemic too Cyprus

Family: Gryllidae

Modicogryllus is the type genus of crickets in the tribe Modicogryllini. Species have been recorded from: Europe, Africa, the middle East, temperate and tropical Asia through to Australia and western Pacific islands

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Photos  by George Konstantinou 

Hairy Scale-cricket - Arachnocephalus vestitus Costa, O.G., 1855 - Cyprus

Family: Mogoplistidae

Habitat:

Arachnocephalus vestitus mostly lives in dry shrub and also reeds.

Life cycle:

Arachnocephalus vestitus is cryptical and best observed by beating with an umbrella.

Remarks:

Arachnocephalus vestitus occurs from Southern France across Italy and the Balkans to Asia.

From http://www.pyrgus.de/Arachnocephalus_vestitus_en.html

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Photos  by George Konstantinou 

Platycleis escalerai Bolívar, 1899 - Cyprus

 Family: Tettigoniidae

Habitat:

Platycleis escalerai inhabits dry and hot locations (e.g. garrigues).

Life cycle:

The adults occur early from April or May. They usually live up to the summer drought, but in small numbers sometimes also to early autumn.

Remarks:

Platycleis escalerai occurs from southeasternmost Europe (Greece: especially East Eagean Islands, East Bulgaria, Crimea) across Asia Minor and parts of the Near (Levante including Cyprus) and Middle East to Central Asia.. From http://www.pyrgus.de/Platycleis_escalerai_en.html

See also

Λίστα με τα Ορθόπτερα της Κύπρου - ;LIst of Orthoptera of Cyprus

Photos  by George Konstantinou 

European beak or Nettle-tree butterfly - Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782) - Cyprus

 See also - List of butterflys of Cyprus - Λίστα των πεταλούδων της Κύπρου

Libythea celtis, the European beak or nettle-tree butterfly, is a butterfly of the Libytheinae group of the brush-footed butterflies family.

Family:Nymphalidae

Description

The upperside ground colour is rich silky brown. The forewing has the cell filled with a broad orange-yellow streak which is subapically deeply indented above; a small discal orange-yellow spot present in interspace 1; a much larger, similarly coloured discal spot between veins 2 and 4, on the inner side touching the cell between veins 3 and 4; a subcostal white preapical spot and a quadrate double spot in interspaces 4 and 5, placed obliquely forward to the subcostal spot; this spot whitish above, orange below. Hindwing uniform, with an irregular curved, transverse, upper postdiscal orange patch extending from just below vein 3 to interspace 6, the portion in interspace 6 often detached. Underside ground colour: forewing brown, apex pale purplish irrorated (sprinkled) with minute dark transverse striae and dots, orange markings as on the upperside but paler; hindwing uniform pale purplish irrorated with minute dark dots and transverse striae. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen dark brown; beneath, palpi, thorax and abdomen concolorous with the tint of the underside of the hindwing

Its range is southern Europe, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Central Asia and the Chitral ranges of Pakistan.

The larva feeds on Celtis australis.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libythea_celtis

Ηostplant in Cyprus  -  Celtis australis L. - Κοκκονιά, Τρικουτζιά - Μελικουκιά - Cyprus

Photos  Troodos, 23.6.2019 by  Mike Hadjiconstantis

Black stream glider (Trithemis festiva) Rambur, 1842 - Cyprus

See also - List of Odonata of Cyprus - (Dragonflies and Damselflies of Cyprus)

The black stream glider (Trithemis festiva), also known as the indigo dropwing is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is a very widespread species, occurring from Greece, Cyprus and Turkey, throughout Asia to New Guinea.

Description

Black stream glider is a medium-sized dragonfly with purple color on its body structure.

In the male, the frontal area appears darker purplish grey. The eyes are dark brown above, with a purple colored tinge, which is bluish grey, lateral and beneath. The thorax is black, covered with purple pruinescence, which helps it appear deep blue. The legs are black and wings are transparent with a dark opaque brown mark at the base of hind wing, with a black spot on tip of the wing. The abdomen is covered with fine blue pruinescence.

The female looks brown in the front and extends above. The eyes are dark brown above and appear more grey-ish below. Thorax is greenish-yellow to olivaceous, with the presence of a medial dark brown lateral stripe. In addition, a Y-shaped inverted stripes can be observed on the sides. Legs are black with anterior femora being yellow on the inner side. Wings are transparent with dark reddish-brown tip with a black spot, similar to the male. The abdomen appears bright yellow with medial, lateral and ventral stripes, colored black, however, the medial and lateral black stripes form a confluence at abdominal segments to enclose a wedge-shaped yellow spot.

Habitat

This dragonfly is commonly seen and has been mostly observed near slow flowing streams and canals, accompanying dense forest ranges. It usually perches on boulders adjacent to streams, rivers and canals. They have also been witnessed perched on tip of aquatic plants, dried plants and similar plants that grow near banks of a sluggish steam or river. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_stream_glider

Photo at Orkonta by George Konstantinou